Tape reel



J 8, 1954 c. 0. NYKWEST ETAL 2,680,576

TAPE REEL Filed Aug. 11, 1950 INVENTOR Clarence D. Nyk wasf. y QI'Z O -5/'in Amaw Patented June 8, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I TAPE REEL New Rochelle, and Fritz Clarence D. Nykwest,

Oscar Stein, Middle Master Rule Manufacturing 00.,

town, N.

town, N.

Y., assignors to 1110., Middle- Y., a corporation of New York Application August 11, 1950, Serial No. 178,814

1 Claim. 1 This invention relates to improvements in brakes for measuring tapes.

The main object of this invention is to provide a brake for a tightly over a substantial area and distribute the reaction forces evenly in the walls of the tape housing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a self locking brake which is easily released.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a plan view of a measuring tape employing the brake of into one of the housing portions and showing some parts in cross section;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line l-li of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross sectional view through the brake and brake actuator; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the brake structure and actuator.

This invention consists in an improved brake structure for a type of measuring tape employmg a this invention looking 2 of brake is needed to hold the blade in extended position and is commonly used.

This invention is concerned with improvements in the brake structure as applicable for such structure has been illustrated to show clearly it relationship to the brake structure.

Figure l is a view looking into the housing portions are assembled they may be permanently secured together by any suitable form of attaching means engaging with the stud 4, such as a machine screw. The spiral spring 5 has its inner end anchored in the stud #3 as, for example, in a slot lying along the chord of the stud. The outer end of this spring is attached to the inner end of the steel measuring blade 6 which is commonly graduated on both sides.

The flanges of the housing portions are of reduced Width in the particular structure illustrated from a point indicated at 211 in Figure 1 to the right angle corner of the housing to leave in a blade end H. The width of the brake shoe is equal to the width of the casing when the housing portions are assembled and the tail portion 9 is welded on the inner face of the flange of portions. The right angle to fit in the right angle porwill be noted that the brake shoe as thus mounted forms a guide and a support for assembling the housing portions. This brake shoe also forms a strengthening liner for a substantial portion of the housing, reinforcing it on two sides.

The tongue portion iii-4i of the brake shoe is of the same contour as the casing at its point of mounting to form a confined path along which the blade moves. The terminal end 2 of the portion ll shown and formed into aligned tubes is to receive a pin [5 on which an oil impregnated fiber or suitable roller M is mounted. The length of pin 15 is equal to the depth of the casing so that no special means is needed to hold it in assembled relation. The portion H of the brake shoe is provided with a downwardly formed dimple it aligned with a brake actuator H.

The brake actuator is of generally cylindrical form and is slidably mounted in a pair of aligned holes in the housing portions. It consists of a cylindrical portion 18 of constant diameter which underlies the dimple 16 when the brake is released. Contiguous to the cylindrical portion i8 is a camming surface formed by a frustoconical portion 19 which is initially sharply curved but which flattens off somewhat, towards its end of maximum diameter. At this end there is a shoulder which limits the axial movement of the actuator to the right, see Figure 2. At the other end of the portion I8 is a shoulder 26, having a similar function, for movement in the opposite direction.

As is clear from Figure 2;, the graduated blade 6 extends from the coil to the passage between the housing and the brake shoe around the guide roller M. This prevents too sharp curvature at this point and provides a smooth rolling action which contributes to the life of the blade and minimizes marring thereof. an oil impregnated roller is used, a thin him of oil is applied to the underface of the blade.

As is clear from Figures 4 and 5, when the actuator is moved so that the oamming surface 19 of the brake shoe is bifurcated as If, as preferred,

-' the end of said opening,

engages the dimple 16, the brake shoe will clamp the blade between it and the adjacent flanges of the housing. The camming surface it flattens out enough in an axial direction so that the brake does not tend to release itself. On the other hand, a little pressure on the opposite end of the actuator releases the brake.

The construction illustrated transmits the action forces of applying the brake evenly into the side wall of the casing which is desirable. Likewise, the pressure of the brake is equally distributed to the adjacent flanges of the casing portions and the blade is gripped over a substantial area so it is quite firmly locked in any extended position.

Since it is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details disclosing the embodiments herein shown, I do not desire to be limited except as required by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A measuring tape as described comprising in com ination a housing having an elongated flanged opening at one side, a graduated blade coiled therein and extending from the housing at a brake shoe secured in said housing having a cantilever tongue conforming to the contour of the housing and underlying said opening, said tongue defining with said housing a passageway, an oil impregnated roller mounted on the end of said tongue for guiding said blade from the coil into said passageway, and an actuator cam mounted on said housing, operable slidably in a direction parallel to the axis about which the tape is coiled for moving said tongue to clamp the blade between it and the flanges at said opening.

References Cited in the file of this UNITED STATES PATENTS patent 

